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Testimonials |
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ESOL
Teacher for Seniors What did you do today to make yourself feel great? When was the last time you did something wonderful for someone else? You can enrich your life while giving of yourself and your time. Become one of the E.S.L. teachers. Choose a day and choose a level. The classes run Monday through Friday from 9:00 A.M. to 11:00 A.M. at Temple Beth Israel in West Hartford. The students are senior citizens from the independent states of the Former Soviet Union who immigrated to the U.S. seeking a more humanitarian way of life. They come from all walks of life-doctors, engineers, teachers, lawyers, manual laborers-with such desire and motivation that you'll often wonder who's benefiting most from the classes, you or them. They have left behind everything except their stories and experiences that they are more than willing to share and retell. Francis Blumenthal started this volunteer program about ten years ago. The teachers come from varied backgrounds and many faiths. The only requirement is to want to walk away at 11:00 feeling and knowing that you made a difference in people's lives. Each teacher brings with him/her (yes we have men teachers too) his/her own unique approach, materials and ideas. This makes interesting and diversified lessons for the seniors. I actually don't know who leaves feeling better-the seniors because they learned something (anything) or the volunteer teachers because as we leave we hear, 'Good lesson today. Good lesson!' If you're away one or two weeks, just inform your students that there will be no class. Yes, they moan and groan, but when you return, you'll practically receive a standing ovation. We do more than just teach. We've gone to the Old State House and the Wadsworth Atheneum; we have strolled in Elizabeth Park; and we have cried while eating popcorn during the showing of Titanic at Bloomfield Cinemas. We have practiced American customs during our Thanksgiving feast. Passover was celebrated with a modified Seder. We celebrated the newcomers and Shabbat with their participation and leadership in a special Shabbat Service at Temple Beth Israel coordinated by Phyllis Nussbaum, one of our E.S.L. teachers. Come join our team; you'll be glad you did. You can make a difference in someone's life. You will be able to say, 'I did something good today.' by
Donna Ganslaw, volunteer teacher and coordinator
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